A global memory chip shortage is pushing smaller device makers like Fairphone, Jolla, and Framework to rethink product design, order chips months ahead, and test incoming shipments for counterfeits. Fairphone's CEO says memory now accounts for nearly 60% of the bill of materials on its roughly $400 phones, while SK Hynix's chief has warned the shortage could persist until 2030, peaking in severity around 2027.
Apple has classified the 2019 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display as vintage worldwide, following last month's addition of three MacBook models to the same list. The designation applies to products discontinued for more than five but less than seven years.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman outlines Apple's near-term product roadmap, saying six devices should ship before year's end, including touchscreen MacBook Pro models, an updated non-touch 14-inch MacBook Pro, a refreshed iMac with an M6 chip, a HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K with Siri AI, and an OLED iPad mini. The long-rumored HomePad smart display remains unconfirmed for this window, with Gurman calling its timing still fluid. He also previews a first-half-2027 wave covering an iPhone Air 2, an OLED iPad Air, and mostly iterative chip upgrades across iPhone, MacBook Air, MacBook Neo and iPad Pro lines.
Eye drop products sold at a major grocery chain have joined a growing list of recalls tied to inadequate sterility assurance. The manufacturer flagged that the products may not meet sterility standards required for products applied directly to the eye, raising the risk of contamination.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is considering repositioning Beats as a label for less refined, lifestyle-driven products, with gaming controllers as a starting point. The idea reflects Apple's interest in tapping into gaming culture without attaching its flagship brand to hardware that may not meet its usual design polish.
Smartphones pick up significant grime through constant handling, with studies showing they can carry far more bacteria than a toilet seat. Despite this, cleaning experts caution against using Windex, compressed air, hydrogen peroxide or bleach on phone screens, since these substances can permanently damage the display's protective coating.
A batch of declassified President's Daily Brief items spanning February 1998 through mid-1999 has been released, documenting repeated CIA warnings about Osama bin Laden's network. The documents track intelligence on bin Laden's location, his pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, infrastructure in North America, and plans to hijack US aircraft, among other threats.
Ian Rogers, who previously built Beats Music, helped launch Apple Music, and later worked at LVMH, has taken on the role of chief human agency officer at Ledger, a crypto security startup valued at $1.5 billion. Ledger uses secure hardware chips, similar to those found in credit cards, to protect digital assets like Bitcoin from theft or loss. Rogers is now working remotely from rural Italy, shaping the company's security and AI strategy.
Following this week's iPhone Duo reveal, Apple is said to be preparing an October rollout that includes three new Macs—among them a redesigned touchscreen MacBook Pro/Ultra with OLED, an updated M6 MacBook Pro, and an M6 iMac. The lineup is also expected to bring Siri-powered Apple Home upgrades, plus a new OLED iPad mini and possibly an updated base iPad.
Omaha Steaks is cutting its catalog by 60%, simplifying its pricing structure, and shrinking its overall lineup while pledging to emphasize domestically raised beef. The move comes as the broader beef market faces turmoil, with grocery prices at record highs and cattle supplies at their lowest in 75 years.
Apple's upcoming 'Surprise and Shine' event is expected to introduce three new iPhones, including its first foldable device, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, priced between $2,000 and $2,500. The lineup will also include the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, both reportedly powered by a new A20 Pro chip, with the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air held back for a later announcement. This will be the first major product event overseen by Apple's new hardware engineering chief turned CEO, John Ternus.
Apple is set to hold an event expected to unveil between six and nine new products, headlined by its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Ultra. Reports suggest the device could cost more than $2,000, with top configurations reaching $3,000, making it a flagship rather than a volume seller.
GoKawiil